CountryCore Series: Hold Your Horses (WLW)

My Girlfriend's a Surfer, But So Is Her Friend's Dog?

Kennedy was swamped in a hug from Hugo and Paul, bounced from side to side as they both giggled into her ears and cast a grin across her features. She embraced them back, then leaned away and found her cheek promptly cupped by Hugo. He sent her a wink and she didn't fight the chuckles billowing from deep within her chest, cascading their warmth throughout her limbs as well.

"Welcome to the group, cutie!" He exclaimed and Paul wrapped his arms around him from behind, perching his chin on his shoulder as he grinned from ear to ear.

"Seriously, it's really great to see you again, Kennedy." Although Paul was more calm, she saw just how well the excitable couple were together and smiled as she felt a hand slipping into hers.

Peering to her side, she found Mikala appearing rather smug as she stared straight ahead toward the couple. "She's great, isn't she?" They both vehemently nodded as Jimmy ran ahead of Mikala and Kennedy and began petting a boxer dog nearby. Sarah knelt down with him and struck up a conversation as she ruffled not just the dog's ears, but Jimmy's hair as well. Kennedy was already happy to be so accepted by Mikala's friend group, yet she now found herself ecstatic as they also glommed onto Jimmy who she agreed was in great need of more friends. It just made sense for him, Jimmy was a true and caring friend to her after all, and she was joyful that the others could see that as well. Lifting her gaze back toward Mikala, she found admiration facing her and popped up on her tiptoes, giving her a quick peck on the cheek. "One more?"

As she spoke, Mikala tapped her lips and Kennedy giggled as she popped up again, this time giving her some love on her curvaceous mouth. "Any more requests?"

"Well, yeah, but I can't really say them here." The sultry tone in her words didn't escape Kennedy and she felt her cheeks heating hotter than the sand underfoot. Mikala cupped her cheek, then rubbed her thumb along the sizzling skin just under her eye with a soft grin. "This is enough. For now."

With that, the two couples walked the rest of the way toward the rest of their friends and Kennedy gasped as the boxer from earlier trotted up to her without hesitation. He immediately hopped up on her legs and wagged his tail so swiftly that his entire backside wiggled from side to side. He panted and if Kennedy didn't know any better, she'd have sworn he was smiling up at her. He whined and she reached down, petting along his face and receiving some loving licks before he ran back to Sarah.

"He's a great dog. Really sweet and outgoing." Mikala explained.

"What's his name?" Kennedy tugged her further under the shade of the group's rented tent and took a bottle of water that Sarah handed her as she stood.

"Rocky." She gave Kennedy a side hug as someone at the dog surfing event called over a PA system that contestants ten through fifteen were up next. Giving Mikala Rocky's leash after she took it off, Sarah grabbed a nearby surfboard that was a bit shorter than the average Kennedy had seen in her days in her hometown. She leaned over and looked into Mikala's eyes as she softly spoke, "Sorry, but she came."

Mikala's eyebrows furrowed as her smile slowly fell and she looked past Sarah, running her gaze over the area. It finally settled on a woman with jet black hair that was up in a ponytail and she sighed. Her shoulders slumped and she peeked over at Kennedy, then draped her arm around her shoulders. She kept her close and Kennedy wrapped her arms around her torso as she turned her head back toward the woman. She was now looking over at them with a perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised before she turned and moved in their direction.

Mikala pulled Kennedy snugly along her side and leaned her head down, her lips brushing along her ear as she whispered, "Sorry about this..."

As soon as she stood up straight again, leaving Kennedy rather befuddled as to why she would ever be apologetic, the woman from moments earlier arrived in front of them. "Hey, Kala. Been a minute."